Description

Admin History:

John Dewick Lambert Nicholson, often known as Jack, was born in February 1891 on Constable Street in Hull. He went to Chiltern Street School and won a scholarship to the Boulevard Higher Grade School. He followed in the family tradition by becoming a sea-going engineer. He served a five year apprenticeship, first with the Red Cross fleet of the Hull Steam Fishing and Ice Co., and later with the Central Dry Dock Co.

By the age of 11, he had become the smallest and youngest trumpeter with the Garrison Artillery Volunteers at Park Street Barracks. On the formation of the Territorial Force in Hull he became a gunner and figured in prizewinning companies. By 1911 he had started his sea-going service and had sailed extensively around the world before 1914. On the outbreak of World War I, he travelled 6,200 miles from Buenos Aires to join the Royal Field Artillery. For over three years he was on the Western Front, serving continuously in the front line until May 1918, when he was seriously wounded and gassed at Mericourt L’Abbs, near Amiens. After being discharged from the forces, with the rank of staff sergeant artificer, Jack Nicholson worked for varying periods with a Stoneferry oil concern and with various Hull engineering firms.

He played a prominent part in trade union affairs, being a member of the Amalgamated Engineering Union for many years and holding various offices. He was secretary of the Hull Trades Council and was an editor and manager of the Hull Sentinel. Jack also became very involved in politics. His association with the Labour Party dates back to 1915 and among his various roles were divisional chairman, minute secretary and executive committee member. It was not until 1925-1926 did he seek election to Hull City Council. In his first bid, he lost by only 84 votes to the then sitting Lord Mayor, Frank Finn. The following year, however, John Nicholson was successful and would go on to sit on the City Council for the next 34 years. He became an alderman in May, 1949 and was chairman of the Corporation Water Committee and the Welfare Services Committee. He was Lord Mayor for the year 1945-1946, and on May 8th 1945, in Queens’ Gardens, he made a speech celebrating the end of hostilities in Europe, in what became known as VE-Day.

John Nicholson served the community and city in many other capacities. He was a governor of Hymers College; a member of the governing body of the Gault and Harris (Estate) Charity; a representative trustee of the Eleanor Scott Charity; a member of the Yorkshire Council for Old People’s Welfare and of the General Council of the North Regional Association for the Blind, and a representative on the Yorkshire District Council of the National Joint Industrial Council for the waterworks undertakings industry. In December 1914 he married Elsie Robinson and they had one son, John S Nicholson, who was born in 1916. John (Jack) Nicholson died 19 Nov 1962.

Description:

Papers relating to the Hull Trades Council, the Hull Sentinel, trade unions, Soviet relations and the Spanish Seamen's strike